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(NewsUSA) - Electric cars have huge potential to change the auto industry, particularly with rising gas prices, but a new design out of California targets the niche of busy urban drivers.
The new Zap Xebra all-electric car is a 40-mph, three-wheeled automobile that was designed for people who do a lot of in-town driving. Unlike hybrids, the Zap car needs no gas at all - just plug into any conventional outlet.
Publicly owned Zap (stock symbol: ZP) sees a market with multi-car families that are looking for the fuel-savings benefits electrics can offer for commuting, errands or government and corporate fleet use.
"Many people buy electric cars because they want to use them when they don't need their gas cars," said Alex Campbell, spokesman for Zap. "What they quickly realize is that most of their daily trips are perfect for electric cars, and realistically it becomes the first car."
According to Zap, studies show most driving trips are within 20 miles of home, distances well within the city limit for the Xebra, which can travel up to 40 miles per charge.
According to a study by the Green Car Institute, 15 percent of all cars sold could be electric today. When consumers have a choice between driving an electric car and a gas car, they choose the electric car 90 percent of the time.
Zap says its Xebra project is the offspring of more than three decades of thought and evolution in electric transportation. This car was created from the ground up because the use and purpose of electric vehicles is different than gas cars.
At about 4 cents per mile compared to 15 cents or more for gas, there is no comparison for cost-conscious consumers. With rising gas prices, people might be much more open to this unique new cost-effective design.
For more information on the Zap Xebra, visit www.zapworld.com or call (800) 251-4555.